Candy of Pieter Devos into breedingThe new year starts with the retirement for Pieter Devos’ Grand Prix-mare, Candy (by Nabab de Rêve). Recently the mare moved to the stables of Joris De Brabander in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, one of the owners of the mare. Candy will continue her career as a breeding mare. Her first embryo by Cumano’s son Malito de Rêve will be sold in the online Winter Edition at www.et-auction.com. Together with Pieter Devos the mare jumped to victory during the richest GP in the world at Spruce Meadows, Calgary in 2013. Candy jumped together many international classes in her career. The combination placed second during the Calgary CSIO Nations Cup, a third place in the Longines Global Champions Tour in Miami and the fourth place in Amsterdam’s Grand Prix. The mare descends from the same family as Big Ben, himself two-time winner of the Spruce Meadows CN Grand Prix. Also an other family member, Dixson, won that GP with Ian Miller in the saddle. Candy’s eldest daughter is recently sold to Ilan Ferder in USA. Her Grand Canyon van HD already jumped GP’s in the US and also Philippe Le Jeune, Olivier Philippaerts and Jos Lansink have offspring of this legendary GP mare under the saddle.

Own stable for Steve Guerdat Swiss rider and horseman Steve Guerdat leaves the Rütihof in Herrliberg near Zurich after eight years to move to the mythical equestrian center of Monika and Paul Weier to fulfill a long-cherished dream of starting his own business. From this day on, the London Olympic champion will become the new owner and manager of the famous equestrian center of Elgg, including the entire plant, grounds and properties in the surrounding area. The box and facilities for Nino are ready, and the preparations for the change of residence of Steve and his horses are in full swing. After 10 years at the Rütihof in Herrliberg, of course some melancholy is present leaving the beautiful plant on the hillside above the right bank of the Lake of Zurich. Steve thanks from the bottom of his heart the owner Urs Schwarzenbach, the manager Werner Oberholzer and the entire staff for the great help and continuous support during all the years. At the same time he is looking forward to this new challenge and to start something new, and on his own.

Luciana Diniz writes a bookWhen her horse Fit for Fun was set aside because of an injury, Luciana Diniz stated she was planning to write a book. The Portuguese female show jumping rider has now taken the pen in the hand and soon will publish her first book. “FIT4GOLD Living in colors from black and white” is the title. The book is the story of an Olympic athlete who had all the chances to win the Gold in Rio. In January 2017 the e-book will be released, later the printed version follows. The book will be published in English and Portuguese.

Hermes Ryan jumping againOn his Facebook the French show jumping rider Simon Delestre announced the comeback of his horse Hermes Ryan (by Hugo Gesmeray). His horse got injured last summer in Rio de Janeiro on the day before the start of the Olympic Games. Delestre writes: “Hermes Ryan starts to jump again and everything goes well.” At the last Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro Delestre forfait the Games due to a micro fracture of Hermes Ryan. Delestre had to see his team win the gold team medal from the sideline.

Muff loses national titleIn September 2015 Werner Muff jumped to the national show jumping title of Switzerland. Now the Swiss show jumper has to give in his medal as some urine tests of his championship horse, Pollendr have tested positive for Tramadol, often used as a painkiller. The Swiss court of the Federation and COSAN have disqualified Muff and added a fine of 1,000 Swiss franks. Muff has filed an appeal. In his argumentation it states there was such a small amount of Tramadol to be traced, the quantity could never have been given by purpose, rather by accident. Because Muff has to hand in his Championships title. Edwin Smits and Dandiego BZ (by Dutch Capitol) are now announced Swiss Champion. Steve Guerdat and Paul Estermann claim the silver and bronze.

Glock’s Zaranza back in trainingIn September one of Gerco Schröder’s top horses had to undergo a serious operation for colic. Glock’s Zaranza (left) (v. Karandasj) survived the surgery and now, after a long recovery, is back under the saddle. The combination started training again and took their first jump.

New Belgian horses at WEFWhen WEF is starting we found many recently Belgian horses on the competitor’s list. Most of the left already a while ago, but will now make their competition start. Icarus van de Kalevallei (Kashmir van 't Schuttershof) left the barn of Jur Vrieling and will be ridden by Lukene Arenas (right). Icarus already jumped at 1.45m level at eight-year-old last year, before flying over to the USA.

Hija van 't Strokapelleken (Calido I), formerly ridden by Penelope Leprevost, is the new mount of Jennifer Gates. She also bought the Grand Prix horse Pacific from Martin Fuchs. The black stallion was mainly ridden by the Finnish Anna-Julia Kontio, the ex-girlfriend of Fuchs.

Adam Prudent (left) bought Butterfly Chavannais (Azimut Chavannais) from Ignace Philips. Christine McCrea shopped in Belgium at Haras de Laubry of Damien Haelterman, where she found Jarcobond van de Oude Eik (Vagavond de la Pomme). This gelding jumped to the World Championship’s Final in Lanaken last September. Handy van HD and Don's Diamant (Diamant de Semilly) both will be seen under Alberto Michan after they were sold to Tal Milstein and Ilan Ferder.

That not all… Ima van d'Abdijhoeve (Contact van de Heffinck), left the French rider Charlotte Leoni and is going to be seen with Elizabeth Gingrass in Palm Beach. Just to name some recently transferred horses.

Two new horses for Victoria Gulliksen Victoria Gulliksen has two new horses again. The first one, Papa Roach, is only eight-year-old and comes from the German rider Andreas Knippling. In Belgium she found Luron S Z (Lord Z) in the stables of Abdel Saïd. Last year he competed this gelding at WEF.